From e-Commerce to m-Commerce: The Power of the Mobile Internet

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of prevailing trends and developments shaping m-Commerce (mobile commerce) and the wireless economy. A detailed roadmap of the evolving mobile technology landscape is first presented. An intuitive review of the many basic underlying building blocks attempts to demystify the alphabet soup that wireless telecommunications infrastructure is often deemed to be. Interesting mobile Internet deployment and adoption demographics are highlighted. Commercial ramifications of actual and potential wireless application implementations are emphasized. Pertinent issues serving to promote or impede m-commerce take-off are examined. A case study is also included, profiling an industry-leading m-Commerce Web portal.